An Absolutely Remarkable Thing Audiobook by Hank Green | The Carls

Summary

Prepare to embark on an extraordinary journey through the pages of this captivating audiobook. Whether you’re an avid reader or a newcomer to the world of audiobooks, this unique listening experience is sure to leave a lasting impression. With a perfect blend of engaging storytelling and skilled narration, this audiobook transports you into a realm where the boundaries between reality and fantasy seamlessly blur.

Audiobook Info

• Author: Hank Green
• Narrator: Kristen Sieh, Hank Green
• Duration: 10 hours and 44 minutes
• Publisher: Penguin Audio
• Release Date: September 5, 2018
• Series: The Carls
• Book: 1

Review

What happens when a late-night encounter with a ten-foot-tall robot sculpture transforms an ordinary twenty-something into an overnight global sensation? Hank Green’s debut novel tackles this question with razor-sharp wit and surprising emotional depth, delivering a listening experience that feels startlingly relevant to our hyperconnected age.

Kristen Sieh’s narration is nothing short of phenomenal. She captures April May’s voice with remarkable authenticity – equal parts sardonic, vulnerable, and achingly human. There’s a conversational intimacy to her delivery that makes you feel like April is confiding directly in you, sharing her most chaotic thoughts as she navigates the bewildering landscape of viral fame. Hank Green himself contributes brief narrative interjections that add a clever meta-layer to the storytelling without ever feeling gimmicky.

The premise hooks you immediately: April stumbles upon a mysterious metallic figure she names “Carl,” films a quirky video with her friend Andy, and wakes up to discover she’s become the face of an inexplicable worldwide phenomenon. Identical Carls have appeared simultaneously in dozens of cities across the globe. But Green isn’t interested in giving us a straightforward alien invasion story. Instead, he uses this extraordinary setup to dissect something far more familiar – our relationship with social media, celebrity culture, and the terrifying speed at which public opinion can elevate or destroy.

April May is a brilliantly flawed protagonist. She’s ambitious, creative, and genuinely funny, but she’s also self-absorbed, prone to poor decisions, and increasingly intoxicated by the validation that comes with millions of followers. Green doesn’t shy away from making her uncomfortable to root for at times, and that’s precisely what makes her journey so compelling. Through April’s eyes, we witness how fame distorts relationships, warps self-perception, and creates impossible expectations.

The audiobook masterfully balances its sci-fi mystery elements with incisive social commentary. The Carls themselves remain tantalizingly enigmatic – are they a gift? A test? A threat? The puzzle-solving sequences, particularly the surreal dream sequences where characters collaborate to unlock the Carls’ secrets, are genuinely inventive and translate beautifully to audio format. Meanwhile, the escalating tension between those who embrace the Carls and those who fear them mirrors real-world divisions with uncomfortable precision.

Green’s background as a YouTube creator and internet personality gives the novel an authenticity that lesser writers couldn’t replicate. The depictions of comment sections, Twitter storms, and the exhausting performance of maintaining a public persona ring painfully true. This isn’t someone imagining what internet fame might be like – it’s someone who has lived it, processing that experience through fiction.

The pacing occasionally meanders in the middle sections, but these slower moments allow for character development that pays dividends in the emotionally charged final act. By the time you reach the cliffhanger ending, you’ll be genuinely invested in April’s fate and hungry for the sequel.

Winner of the 2018 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Science Fiction, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing announces Hank Green as a novelist of considerable talent. It’s thought-provoking without being preachy, entertaining without being shallow, and ultimately asks us to consider what we owe each other in a world where everyone is simultaneously connected and isolated.

Download & Listen

Ready to discover what the Carls want – and what viral fame costs? An Absolutely Remarkable Thing offers the perfect blend of mystery, humor, and social insight that makes for compulsive listening. Kristen Sieh’s captivating performance brings April May’s chaotic journey to vivid life, making this an audiobook best experienced rather than simply heard. Download your copy today at KTAudiobooks.com and join the millions who’ve already fallen under the spell of Hank Green’s remarkable debut. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself questioning your own relationship with that glowing screen in your pocket.